70 THE RIGHT RECEIVING.
he might have had husks to keep his life and soul together, he would never have conio home. So we, the sons of Adam, might we have but fig-leaves to cover our nakedness, we would never become suitors unto God for par- don. Here, then, examine ; dost thou discern that without the receiving of his body and blood thou art like a man kept from meat and drink, and that thou ai't dead? If thou findcst this, there is one step good; but if otherwise thou standest stoutly and thinkcst that thou hast no need thereof, thou art an unworthy receiver. These are for matter of grace. The second point wherein a man must examine himself is,
2. Whether upon the disceniinff of his uants, upon the cUscerninrf of that death which certainly heloiujeth unto him, he rely upon Christ ; whether the Lord worketh upon his heart a true longing for that righteousness without''^ himself.
When the Lord spi'cads his table to feast his friends, he calleth not them who have no kind of appetite, nor stomach ; and therefore thou must examine thyself whether thou hast a stomach, an hungering after Christ Jesus. This is a special point, which certainly if a man find not, he may doubt whether he be sound or not. If a man have his victuals taken from him, he grows hungry and thirsty, is vexed and discontented. How then Cometh it to pass that our bodily hunger is so sensible, when yet our soul's hunger is not felt of us ? He that is in this estate, a-starving, and feels it, is not that man ready to die ? Before we come therefore to the Lord's table, let us labour to get an appetite, for, I say, God thinketh such precious meat as this ill bestowed upon them that have no appetite unto it- We see worthy patterns in the Scriptures. David he says, ' As the hart panteth after the rivers of water, so my soul lougeth after the living God,' Ps. xlii. 1. And, beloved, blessed is he that findeth this thirst, blessed are they, they shall be blessed. Contrary to this, whenas children play with their meat, it is time it should be taken from them. Their estate in this case is woful for the present. The third point whereupon a man must examine himself is,
3. Whether these tico grounds being laid (that first he discerneth his misery, his death, that he is a dead man without he get Christ ; and secondly, that he hungers and thirsts after him), he setteth himself about it.
For it is not sufficient for a man to hunger, and never go about the work ; but as a hungry man is eager to feed, nothing should keep him from it. Here is the point, whether our hunger after righteousness putteth us so on that we will have it whatsoever it costs us. A man that is ready to die for hunger will give all that he hath rather than he will go without meat. Even so the soul, when it is once pinched and hunger-bit, and seeth bread in heaven, it presenteth itself before God, beggeth as for life that God would bestow his Son for cure. So that I may truly say, ' The kingdom of heaven suffers violence,' Mat. xi. 12, and nothing shall withhold the violent from taking it, when they come into the presence of God. Hhe fourth point is,
4. Whether (upon this touch of conscience, upon this earnest hungering and thirsting after righteousness) ive j^resently can set forward ivithout delay, and go to the throne of grace.
That we consider our case is now like the case of him who had committed man-slaughter amongst the Jews, for whom there was appointed a city of refuge, unto which if he could fly before he was apprehended, he saved his life ; if otherwise taken before he came thither, he was to die. Without question that man would make great haste thither. Examine then thyself * That is, = outside of, independent. — G,
THE RIGHT RECEIVING. 71
whether thy hi"in<TeriDg after righteousness worketh this effect, that without all delay thou wilt come after Christ Jesus thy refuge and defence. It is not sufficient for thee to say, I know that without Christ I shall die ; I will do it to-morrow, when I have done other things, I will purchase his favour. Well ; boast not of to-morrow ; examine thyself whether thy hunger after righteousness be so great, that it will not suffer thee to rest or sleep till thou hast his favour. He that cometh thus affected, and that will make no delay, but be an earnest suitor unto God for his Son, that he may have Christ — though the request be great, the necessity yet is such a matter that we forget all good manners, and so presently do well ; and what do we then ? We take unto us words. Then a man cometh before the throne of grace ; but standeth he there mute ? No certainly. He that is partaker of Christ, and hath grace in his heart, standeth he there mute ? No ; but he can put up an elegant note in the ears of God, as it is said, Rom. viii. 26, * "We know not how to pray as we ought ; what shall we say then ? ' Why, saith the apostle, ' If you are the sons of grace, the Spirit helpeth your infirmities, and maketh request for 3'ou with sighs and groans which cannot be uttered.' There is the point wherein we ought to examine our hearts, whether the Spirit of God hath made such an intercession in us ? that is, whether he hath made us able when we come into the presence of God, upon the consideration of his mercy, to send up a volley of sighs unto him ? whether we can fill heaven with our groans, and dart them upwards ? He that can do this, that when he presents himself before God (that knoweth the heart, who knoweth what is the meaning of his groans, what he would say, and is accepted of him) ; he that can find in himself the Spirit of prayer, that he can come before him, unwrap and shew his sores ; desire the Lord to pity him, and will never give him over till he hath graciously answered, and hath invited him — the Lord loveth such a suitor. Perhaps he will not give him a ready answer and despatch at first, but wiU have him attend. But if like Israel* he will still soHcit him, till he have got the blessing, if he will take no denial ; the Lord hath said, and his word shall stand, ' Take my Son ;' this man may have full consolation ; this man hath grace. And then folio weth,